RED TRANSFORMATION

Alley no.1.. near Bachu Seth Ki Wadi of Kamathipura witnessing the systematic attack of real estate transformation. The entire district en-mas to about 40 acre & has history dated back to Britisher time when they developed port trust.  The red district may soon become the blue collar district. The transformation of precious precinct is inevitable due to its proximity to city center. 

The organized acquisition of important building and trading them at higher value for cluster development is a known event in inner city. The relocation policy after promises and acquisition is haphazard as much as illogical. They are relocated in distant district of Vikhroli; Mankhurd & Nalasopara. Its needless to say the nature of economic activity that may occur in due course.

Pila House/ Foras Road/ Eight cinemas were ready to entertain the certain segment or class of people. The book written by lady photographer "MARY ALLEN MARK" on Folkland Road is a historical testimony of the night life that once existed in the district. The book elaborates the life style that existed in small room/ small alley & dragging into the public realm.  The shops are already transformed into showrooms & restaurants. 

The redevelopment has symbiotic relation to rehabilitation.The rising trend of acquisition and transformation is perhaps the alarming bell for the lives that existed once in their little world. It reminds me of the song by ROD STEWART "Down Town Train". describing the Brooklyn Girls standing on doorways trying to impress but will never win you by.  

UNKNOWN STRUGGLE

Perhaps South India had no Voltaire or Montesquieu to interpret political phenomenon in terms of pure reason. But the feeling of nationalism and patriotism was never second to any foreign country. The greatest political thinker of South India then was Maruda Pandyan a rebel leader of the Sivaganga. His concerns were revolved around:

-          Obstructive policy of the princes

-          Contestation of various groups

-          Abysmal politics of the British & company

-          Habitual submissive nature of people to authority.

Added to political & economical atrocities the inhabitants were forbidden to perform their social obligation rights & customs. The excessive practice of oppression alienated all the powerful sections of the community/ peasants/ artisans/ officials. Greatly agitated at the political malady and economic tragedy the poligars and the natives united & gave a stubborn resistance to the British imperialism. Maruda Pandyan/ Kattabomman/ Gopal Nayak/ Kerala Varma were the pioneers of the rebellion & revolutionized the native feelings against the company.

The economic exploitation of ruthless British merchants/ irregular methods in exaction of wealth/ policy of aggression/ expansion & maintenance demand of military establishment/ compulsive support to overseas trade & aggressive wars had baneful effect economic/ social sphere of life of natives. Many rebel leaders accepted the leadership of MP. Hence the Kalayarkoil of Sivaganga became the headquarters  of the liberation movement of Tamils against the British.  During early phase of hi life he fought for organization known as Seemai founded by king of Sihvaganga for liberation. Various princely state jointly planned to destroy Seemai along with the company. MP fought bravely and gallantly but Sivaganga surrendered. 

 

Once again he began to gain control and goodwill of people. He became the advisor of the king of Sivaganga.  The most important Trichy proclamations of MP is the best testimony of his sense of unity and philosophy. A copy of proclamation was pasted in the fort of the Trichinopoly. He made it known to people that their rights and customs were in jeopardy & its their duty to save from annihilation. He inspired the Tamilians to rise againt the mighty imperial power. The idea of proclamation spread fat and wide and many people joined the force of Sivaganga. Many chief and poligars responded to the call of MP by sending men and materials to the rebel leader. He managed to collect army of 20000 people with weapons. The rebels atacted the company in 1801. The battles were fought at Kamudi and various surroundinglocations. The prolonged siege of Kalayarkoil by the British foiled the effort of MP. His forces could not withstand the wounds caused by the British modern weapons. The multi sided attack by British left no way for MP to continue the resistance & incurred heavy losss of men & material. After six month of hard fight the MP escaped but subsequently caught and hanged thus ended the tragic tale of the South Indian Rebellion.

MP. The most illustrious strategist of this movement initiated and assumed the leadership  of the league of the patriots. He promoted rebellious spirit & added insurgent in other quarters to subvert the foundation of British Empire.

BALLARD ESTATE

Fine urban design excersize carried out in 1914-18, housing port offices. The photographs are taken from top floor of our interior site.

290912

LINKING ROAD,SANTACRUZ-W

URBANABRAU

URBANSUBURBAN

MASTER THESIS: 2012

2012 Master’s thesis was a one stride up of its precedence by virtue of its urban concerns and representation. The intent has been varied significantly but everyone remained subservient to the methodology that frequelty has been emphasized. Thesis topic varied by intention on:

- TOPOGRAPHY & URBANISM

- MOVEMENT SYSTEM & URBANISM

- TRANSFORMATION OF SALT PAN

- MRT & URBANISM

- EVERYDAY URBANISM

- RITUALS & URBANISM

- INNER CITY TRANSFORMATION & URBANISM.

I think the diversity of varied intent created a matrix of multiplicity of contextual understanding. All the thesis are worthy of mention as issues are very relevant and at the same time morphing into an academic research forum. If practice assumes to be identification of technological tools for space engagement than academics is identification of questions on psychological, philosophical & phenomenal content of space engagement.